India Bans Super Efficient Weedicide Paraquat, Registration Prohibited and All Existing Registrations Cancelled

Ø Paraquat dichloride is a fast-acting, highly toxic, non-selective chemical herbicide used to kill weeds and dry out crops before harvest

Paraquat Dichloride: Government Prohibits Registration and Cancels Existing Registrations

· Legal basis: Issued under Section 27(2) read with Section 28 of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

· Earlier proposal: The Government had proposed prohibition of the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale and use of Paraquat Dichloride through S.O. 3800(E) dated 10 July 2026.

· Public consultation: Objections and suggestions were invited for 30 days; the relevant Gazette was made available to the public on 13 July 2026.

· Objections considered: The Government states that all representations received were duly considered.

· Expert Committee: The final decision was taken after considering the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.

· Registration Committee: The Government also consulted the Registration Committee constituted under the Insecticides Act.

· Risk finding: The Government concluded that the use of Paraquat Dichloride involves risks to human beings and animals, warranting immediate action.

· Registration prohibited: Registration of Paraquat Dichloride is prohibited from the date of publication of S.O. 5234(E) in the Official Gazette.

· Existing registrations cancelled: All certificates of registration granted under Section 9 of the Insecticides Act for Paraquat Dichloride stand cancelled from the date of publication.

· Return of certificates: The Registration Committee will call back all registration certificates issued for Paraquat Dichloride.

· Non-compliance: Failure to return the registration certificate may attract action under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

· State-level implementation: State Governments are directed to take appropriate steps under the Act and Rules for implementation and enforcement of the Order.

[Dept of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Notification S.O. 5234(E) dated 22 September, 2026]

S.O. 5234(E).—Whereas, the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub- section (2) of section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 (46 of 1968) published an order for declaring its intention to prohibit the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use of Paraquat Dichloride vide notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare number S.O. 3800(E), dated 10th July, 2026 and invited objections or suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby, till the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India in which the notification was published were made available to the public;

And whereas, copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on the 13th July, 2026;

And whereas, the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of said Order, have been duly considered by the Government;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 27 read with section 28 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, the Central Government after considering the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted for the said purpose and after consultation with the Registration Committee set up under the said Act, and, on being satisfied that the use of Paraquat Dichloride involves risk to human being and animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action, hereby makes the following Order namely:-

Order

(1) There shall be a prohibition on the registration of Paraquat Dichloride from the date of publication of this Order in the Official Gazette.

(2) The certificate of registration for Paraquat Dichloride granted under section 9 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 shall stand cancelled from the date of publication of this Order in the Official Gazette.

(3) The Registration Committee shall call back the certificate of registration granted for Paraquat Dichloride and if any person fails to return the certificate of registration, action shall be taken against him under the provisions of the Act.

(4) The State Governments shall take such steps under the Act and the rules made thereunder, as it may deem fit for implementation of the Order in the State.

[F. No. 12078/01/2023-PP-I]